Books by Isla Dewar

A girl, Nell was convinced, should have a good time at seventeen, have met her true love at eighteen, be engaged at nine, and marry at twenty-one. While her mother regards the Locarno Dancehall as a den of iniquity, for seventeen-year-old, shop-girl, Nell McClusky, it's the centre of the universe. Where else is she going to meet the man of her dreams who'll take her away from the hum-drum realities of life on a council estate in 1950s Edinburgh? At first Alistair Rutherford doesn't look that promising. He dresses more like a student than Nell's idol, Buddy Holly. But Alistair comes from a wealthy family and is studying to be a lawyer, two things that mean that Nell soon has plans to leave her dance hall days far behind her. But the reality of marriage is far different to Nell's romantic notions....

Vicar's daughter Izzy feels hugely guilty that she's having a very good war. Having learned to fly in a travelling circus before the war, she's now joined the Air Transport Auxiliary as one of their few female pilots and is having the time of her life. The only cloud on the horizon is having to lie to her father about her exact role in the ATA. Her father is against the whole notion of women flying - he certainly wouldn't approve of her becoming a 'spitfire girl'.Izzy also feels distinctly out of place among the more upper class ladies of the ATA. She would love to be as worldly as her flighty housemate, Julia, or as sophisticated as society wife Clare. But when Izzy finds herself falling for the charms of a dashing American doctor it is to Julia and Clare that she turns for help...

In this irresistible and unputdownable novel, Isla Dewar offers searing insight into human nature and relationships while also bringing out the humour of the darkest situations

An enchanting novel about realising that journeys of discovery don't always have to be to far-flung places

A perceptive, wildly funny and deeply moving novel

A witty and beautifully observed novel that looks deep into the secrets of family life

A poignant and moving novel from a bestselling Scottish author whose writing is deeply evocative and thoughtful

Isla Dewar's unique combination of brilliant characterisation, beautifully evoked landscapes and incisive humour is honed to its finest in this lovely novel